New survey shows employees want strong company response amid surging burnout rates
Burnout is surging in Hong Kong as the number of employees suffering more than doubled in 2024, revealed a new report from AXA.
The study, which surveyed 769 employees in Hong Kong, found that 49% reported they are dealing with burnout, up from 22% in 2023.
Among them, however, only 16% of employees admitted that they sought professional health, according to the report.
In the report, AXA Study of Mind Health and Wellbeing 2024, 77% of employees said they experienced at least one mind health issue due to their jobs.
To cope, 82% have considered disengaging from work in some capacity.
Aside from burnout, the report found that a significant percentage of employees suffered from the following mind health issues:
"It is concerning to observe that almost every person in the workforce experiences some degree of mental health issues," said Emily Li, Chief Employee Benefits and Wellness Officer, AXA Hong Kong and Macau, in a statement.
As a result of these mind health issues, more than four in 10 respondents said they took a sick leave (48%) and planned to work from home to avoid engaging with colleagues (41%).
More than three in ten respondents also reported that their mental health issues are leading them to seek job changes through internal transfers (38%) or to consider leaving their jobs altogether (35%).
These findings come as 63% of employees believe that mind health benefits and initiatives are crucial in their decision to stay in the workplace.
In fact, 53% of the respondents said they want an improved company response after reporting burnout.
Li said AXA is now actively developing new mental health offers and services to foster resilience among employees in Hong Kong.
"We believe in the power of partnerships to address this ubiquitous issue, making it a key strategic direction for enhancing our mental health proposition for customers," she added.
